Ukrainian court sentences ex-president Yanukovich to 13 years in prison
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A Ukrainian court on Thursday sentenced former president Viktor Yanukovich in absentia to 13 years in jail on treason charges, a judge said, saying his conduct in office had opened the door to Russia's annexation of Crimea and conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Yanukovich fled to Russia in 2014 following street protests against his rule. His successor, Petro Poroshenko, has adopted a pro-Western foreign policy, reversing Yanukovich's tilt towards Moscow.
"With his deliberate illegal actions, Yanukovich committed a crime against the foundations of the national sovereignty of Ukraine, namely state treason", judge Vladyslav Deviatko said.
